Have you found out how much the adoption agency or adoption lawyer made in gross profit from providing your baby for adoption? I found out recenlty that my son likely went for $1200 in 1980. It was a government ministry and hence supposedly "nonprofit," but they charged $1200 for the "home study" -- and believe me, it cost them zero to send a government social worker around to chat for an hour with prospective adopters. So, that was nothing more than the couple paying $1200 to be the next in line on the gov't held waiting list to receive a baby, i.e. paying $1200 to receive a baby in return the next time one could be procured. :( There were not adoption agencies at that time, and gov't had a virtual monopoly here. The incentive for goverment of course was that the same Ministry handled welfare, so for every baby they could scoop for adoption, they saved at least $6000 in future welfare payments to single mothers.
When money changes hands with a child being provided in return, the unfortunate fact is that it is human trafficking. Illegal in many nations, but unfortunately condoned to such a degree in North America that an entire for-profit industry has arisen as a result. And most adoptive parents have NO idea that they are stepping into this ethical quagmire. :( Ideally, NO money should ever change hands in exchange for a child in return. If adoption was a service for children, no money would change hands, as no private businesses would be involved. It would be run by the child and family services departments of government, to provide homes for children who really need them. Not by businesses that thrive by persuading perfectly capable (but self-doubting) mothers to surrender because "their baby deserves better." :(
How does a person go about requesting the info from the agency? And what doc's would you ask for?
Quoting adopteeme:
I remember talking to Robert Anderson (a bridge once traveled twice visited) and him saying he cost $200. That blew me away.
How does a person go about requesting the info from the agency? And what doc's would you ask for?
For recent adoptions it's simple, just phone them and ask how much they charge for a domestic infant adoption. For adoptions long in the past, some agencies will provide (some) records of the adoption with a written request (others flatly refuse). Sometimes it's in the court records. Sometimes, your adoptive parents can tell you. It is very variable, depending on where you live and what agency/lawyer/ministry or whatever controlled th adtion process.
Quoting WsBirthmom:
Cedar...I do know. APs paid $17,000. Together, (yes together) we figured out the agency profited $12,000. The $17,000 they paid, did not include home study fees, travel to the agency 'maternity home' where they were used in a failed adoption prior to ours.
WS, out of curiosity, what did the $5,000 go towards ($17K-$12K)?
I have no idea. Don't know if I want to know...
I have no clue either. I have tried to look into it but the agency is exclusive to a certain religion and they won't give out numbers to just anyone over the phone or on the internet. I remember the social worker telling me the potential aparents had to spend thousands to adopt and she made it sound like its just all the process and paperwork, home studies and such. She also made me feel that any gifts or letters were extra expenses that the agency didn't have money for. They constantly made me feel like I needed to bring in donation money to get letters and gifts shipped to my daughter. I refused. As a teen I also figured that meant all the potential adoptive parents were rich.
Quoting susie703:
I have no idea. Don't know if I want to know...
That's where I am as well.
Awesome weekend! Update!!!
- Cedartrees4
on Feb. 2, 2012 at 4:15 PM